[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48448-48450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23004]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Request for Statements of Interest: Availability for
Demonstration of a High Speed Non-Electric (Fossil Fuel) Passenger
Locomotive
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Request for expressions of interest.
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SUMMARY: FRA announces the availability of a prototype high speed non-
electric (fossil fuel) passenger locomotive for demonstration on
designated intercity high-speed rail passenger corridors. FRA seeks
statements of interest from States or consortia of States interested in
participating with FRA, the manufacturer of this locomotive, and Amtrak
in such demonstrations.
Eligible Participants
All States or consortia of States shall be eligible. States with
high-speed rail corridors designated by the Secretary of Transportation
pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 104(d) shall receive priority for the
demonstration. It is expected that Federal financial assistance, if
any, under this announcement will be provided only through a
cooperative agreement.
Submission of Expressions of Interest
Five (5) copies of each Expression of Interest should be submitted
by November 19, 1999 to the following address: Associate Administrator
for Railroad Development, Federal Railroad Administration, Mail Stop
20, 1120 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20590.
Points of Contact
Technical questions regarding this request may be directed to:
Robert J. McCown, Director, Technology Development Programs, Federal
Railroad Administration, Mail Stop 20, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20590, TEL 202-493-6350, FAX 202-493-6333.
Administrative questions regarding this request may be directed to:
Robert L. Carpenter, Office of Acquisition & Grants Services, Federal
Railroad Administration, Mail Stop 50, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20590, TEL 202-493-6153, FAX 202-493-6171.
Background
FRA's Next Generation High-Speed Rail program has been established
to facilitate the deployment of technologies where improved performance
or reduced cost could enhance the viability of high-speed passenger
rail service, based on incremental improvements to existing rail
infrastructure. The present focus of the program is in four primary
areas: non-electric locomotives, grade crossing risk mitigation, track
and structures, and advanced train control systems.
The successful development and demonstration of lightweight, high
power, non-electric locomotives is critical to the introduction of
passenger service in the United States at speeds above 90 mph. The cost
of electrification may not yet be justifiable in some corridors.
Further, locomotives based primarily on designs appropriate for freight
applications are not practical for speeds above 100 mph, due to poor
acceleration capability and weight, particularly unsprung mass, which
is incompatible with sustained use on typical track structures, because
of the large forces generated at high speeds. For territories where
operations are shared with freight, high powered locomotives, with high
rates of acceleration, are essential to the introduction of high-speed
passenger operations.
FRA, in partnership with Bombardier Transit Corporation, is
producing a prototype high-speed non-electric locomotive capable of 125
mph sustained operations, with the goal of ultimately being capable of
150 mph operations, with acceleration characteristics approaching or
equal to current high-speed electric locomotives used on the Northeast
Corridor. In future phases of the project, the locomotive may also be
capable of demonstrating enhanced performance using the energy storage
element of the
[[Page 48449]]
flywheel developed as part of FRA's Advanced Locomotive Propulsion
System (ALPS) project.
The development of the locomotive has advanced to the point where
FRA and Bombardier Transit Corporation anticipate that the first
prototype will enter into testing during the summer of 2000. Initially,
the prototype will be tested at the Transportation Technology Center,
in Pueblo, Colorado and other locations, to validate its readiness for
passenger operations on the general rail system of the U.S. That
initial testing will be followed by more extensive demonstrations of
the technology over a wide range of operating conditions in which high-
speed non-electric locomotives might operate. FRA is seeking statements
of interest at this time to provide all potential hosts of the proposed
demonstration adequate time to plan and marshal the necessary resources
for a successful demonstration.
Purpose and Project Description
The purpose of the subject demonstration is to gain information on
the performance of the prototype locomotive operating under a wide
range of conditions similar to those in which production versions of
high-speed non-electric locomotives might operate in the future. Two
distinct types of demonstrations will be conducted:
Concept Demonstration
The concept demonstration will involve demonstration of the
prototype locomotive in several of the designated high-speed rail
corridors for periods of three to fourteen days to obtain train
performance data over a wide range of operating conditions. This type
of demonstration will also gauge the reaction of and solicit input from
various potential users of the equipment, including operators, host
railroads, and the general public on design and performance aspects of
the prototype. It is anticipated that the demonstrations will involve
static display, as well as a limited number of train movements over
segments of designated corridors at speeds up to the maximum allowable
speed for the current track class and local conditions for those
segments. FRA and Bombardier Transit Corporation anticipate that the
concept demonstration will begin in the late summer of 2000.
Service Demonstration
The service demonstration will involve demonstration of the
prototype locomotive in revenue service for an extended period of time
(three to six months) in one or possibly two designated corridors to
obtain longer term performance data concerning durability, reliability,
and maintainability. This demonstration will also be used to more fully
explore the capabilities of the prototype, including its ability to
operate in conjunction with modern passenger rail equipment in use in
North America. This part of the demonstration program will involve
revenue service operation of the locomotive and appropriate passenger
cars on a regular schedule by the National Railroad Passenger
Corporation (Amtrak). The service demonstration will begin after
completion of the initial concept demonstration and after any necessary
servicing to and adjustments of the prototype have been completed.
After the completion of the service demonstration, the locomotive may
perform additional concept demonstrations in selected corridors before
being used to test a high-speed lightweight generator system being
developed by the ALPS project team. At the completion of this testing
it is possible that the locomotive may again be available for
additional revenue service demonstration.
Furnished Equipment
FRA and Bombardier Transit Corporation will make available one
prototype high-speed non-electric locomotive for this demonstration
that meets all applicable FRA safety standards for operation at speeds
of up to 125mph. Depending upon final configuration, the train may be
suitable for revenue service operation at speeds up to 150mph. FRA also
anticipates furnishing technical guidance and assistance as appropriate
throughout the project.
Bombardier Transit Corporation will make available for the concept
and service demonstrations, three tilting coaches (one first class and
two business class) with a total seating capacity of approximately 175,
which are similar to those that will be entering Amtrak's Northeast
Corridor Acela Express service in late 1999 and 2000. Two of these
coaches will be modified to permit service to low platforms.
Role of the Selected States and Other Parties
The selected State or consortia of States will be responsible for
all planning, coordination and management of the concept demonstration
while the locomotive is located on the designated corridor. During the
concept demonstration, the selected State(s) will be responsible for
funding the operating expenses associated with the operation on the
corridor, including, but not necessarily limited to: payments for track
access, train and engine crew costs, fuel and other servicing
requirements, station costs, and security. FRA estimates that costs to
be borne by a selected State for a typical concept demonstration would
be between $8,000 and $14,000 per day of operation. The Federal
financial commitment, if any, to a selected State will be made through
a cooperative agreement between that State or consortium of States and
FRA.
During the service demonstration, the selected State(s) will make
any necessary arrangements with Amtrak (or others, if required) to
permit an extended revenue service demonstration of the prototype,
including covering net operating costs incurred by Amtrak (or others,
if required) during the service demonstration.
Subject to funds availability, FRA and its partners in the
locomotive development will arrange for the support of costs associated
with operations outside the geographic area of the selected State(s)
(e.g. cost to move the locomotive from one demonstration site to
another), as well as extraordinary maintenance costs, and may provide
additional assistance as needed to the extent that the demonstration
entails costs beyond normal train operation. Applicants should indicate
whether they are in a position to contribute any funds toward these
costs. Bombardier Transit Corporation will provide qualified personnel
who will assist in maintenance and servicing of the equipment during
the demonstration to the extent that these tasks are specific to this
equipment.
After completion of the service demonstration, the State or
consortium of States will prepare a report in cooperation with Amtrak,
Bombardier Transit Corporation, and FRA detailing the performance,
suitability, customer acceptance, and operating economics of the train
during the service demonstration.
Amtrak will operate the train during the demonstration and between
demonstration locations, interfacing with host railroads, providing
necessary train and engine crews, any inspections required by statute
or regulation, and will assist Bombardier Transit Corporation in the
regular servicing of the equipment.
Statements of Interest
States interested in hosting either a concept or service
demonstration must submit statements of interest to the address
identified above no later than
[[Page 48450]]
November 19, 1999. Statements of interest shall be no more than ten
pages in length. Each statement of interest shall, at a minimum,
indicate whether the applicant houses a designated high-speed corridor;
identify whether the applicant proposes to host a concept
demonstration, service demonstration or both; provide a detailed
description of the proposed demonstration(s), including the route and
schedule of any demonstrations; describe how the demonstration will
develop information that supports FRA's overall program goal of
facilitating the introduction of high-speed rail service in corridors
outside the Northeast Corridor; provide a detailed list of any
resources required and outstanding issues that must be resolved before
undertaking the demonstration; provide a statement from a responsible
official of the host railroad concerning the anticipated availability
of the rail line proposed for the demonstration during the
demonstration period outlined above; and, identify the intended
source(s) and commitment status of the selected State(s)'s proposed
funding.
Evaluation and Selection
In cooperation with its partners, FRA will evaluate the statements
of interest using the following criteria:
1. The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal.
2. The degree to which the proposed demonstration will advance the
feasibility of U.S. high-speed rail operations by providing public
exposure of HSR technology and operational information on the
performance and public acceptance of the demonstration train.
3. The qualifications and demonstrated experience of the proposing
organization to support the proposed demonstration(s).
4. The reasonableness and realism of the proposed costs.
5. The degree to which Federal funds are leveraged by private, non-
Federal, and/or Federal funds available from sources other than FRA
programs, including the degree to which funds are offered to offset
FRA's costs of moving the locomotive between demonstration corridors.
6. The availability of funds.
It is expected that this review process will be completed within 90
days of the closing date of this announcement. At that time FRA may, at
its option, request more detailed proposals from some or all of the
applicants, or move forward in negotiating appropriate agreements with
the selected applicants, based solely upon the statements of interest.
Dated: August 27, 1999.
Jolene M. Molitoris,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-23004 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
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